Temperature control device



Sept. 20, 1938. N. MILLER TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 24, 1935 Inventor; Nichcflas Miller,

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Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,130.88! TEMPERATURE cox'rnor. nmcn Nicholas Miller, La Grange, Ill., aaaignor to Ed- 7 ison General Electric Appliance Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation or New York- Appllcation May 24, 1935, Serial No. 23,195 2 Claims. (Cl. Mil-139) This invention relates to temperature control heating plant is provided controlled in accordance devices, and it has for its object the provision of with the temperature of a room. As pointed out an improved device of this character. previously, this invention is not limited to room 1 Although not limited thereto, this invention thermostats, but is applicable to the control of '5 relates more specifically to means for opening and heating systems in general, such as the heating 5 closing an electric circuit in response to temperameans for an electrically heated bake oven, try ture changes, such as the heating circuit of a kettle, etc.

heating system, or a controlling circuit for the As shown in the drawing, the temperature conheating circuit of a heating system. For examtrol device comprises a base Ill formed 01' a suitpie, the invention is quite suitable as a room able electrically insulating material, such as a 10 thermostat for controlling the central heating phenol condensation product. The base In, as plant or a building; to control electric range shown, is substantially circular in form, and at ovens; electric i'ry kettles; etc. its upper end is provided with an aperture II for In one of its aspects, this invention contemthe reception of a screw or other suitable means plates the provision of improved means for conwhereby it maybe suspended on the wall of a 15 trolling temperature, and also for indicating at room. The base 10 functions to support all the all times the instantaneous values of the tomelements 01 the temperature control device. perature of the controlled medium, or device, The control member of the control device consuch as the air of a room in which the controlling sists in a suitable switch II, which, as shown, is

means is located and whose temperature is being of the fluent yp The switch comprises a closed 20 controlled. 7 tube l3 having an extension ll of reduced diam- In accordance with this invention, a single eter at one end, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Withtemperature responsive element is used to control in the extension [4 of reduced diameter there are a heating circuit and also to operate suitable positioned a pair o electrodes Spaced apart means for indicating the temperature of the conlongitudinally f t e x s O tube l3 and 25 trolled medium. More specifically, a suitable arranged substantially at right angles to this axis. temperature responsive element is arranged to Within the tube l3 there is pl a D 0f control the operation of a control member, such fl d e a h v n goo electrical C v t as a switch. Means are provided for adjusting such as mercury. When the tube is in a horizonthe temperature responsive means so as to hold tal position, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the mer- 30 a preselected temperature, and temperature in- Cary P will be in the main P t of the tube dicating means are provided including a dial opand will not contact the electrodes l5, whereby erated by the adjusting means to denote the temthe switch will be open, that is, the circuit through perature selected. In addition, a suitable indicatthe switch will not be closed. However, when the N ing member cooperates with the dial and is driven tube is tilted in a clockwise direction, as for ex- 35 by the temperature responsive means to indicate ample, t0 the dotted line Position Shown in the instantaneous values of the temperature of the mercury will f into the reduced extenthe controlled medium. v sion ll to engage both 01 the electrodes l5 and For a more complete understanding of this thereby complete a circuit through the switch. 40 invention, reference should be had to the accom- The electrodes l5 are electrically connected to 40 panying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevabinding posts ll by means of flexible electrical tion of a temperature-control device embodying conductors l8. It will be understood that the this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional binding posts will be electrically connected in view or the temperature control device shown in the heating circuit to be controlled, or will be Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation oi the temperaconnected in a controlling circuit for the heating 45 ture control device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with circuit, so that when the switch I2 is opened, portions removed and portions shown in section the heat generating plant or means will not be so as to illustrate certain details of construction; activated to supply heat, whereas when the switch and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation with is closed, the heating circuit will be energized, or

portions broken away so as to illustrate certain the controlling circuit for the heating plant will 50 details of construction. be energized, to cause the heating means to be Referring to the drawing, this invention has activated to supply heat. been shown as applied to a room thermostat in- The angular position of the tube I3 is controlled tended to control the central heating system of a by means of a temperature responsive element is.

house wherein an electrical control circuit for the As shown, the temperature responsive element I9 55 is formed of a bimetallic strip wound. into spiral form with the turns lying substantially one above the other. The bimetallic strip is formed of two metals, having dissimilar temperature coeillcients of expansion, such as invar and brass, the two strips being securely welded together lengthwise. The inner end 20 of the spiral supports a bracket 2| arranged substantially in the axis of the spiral, as shown in the drawing. The member 2| carries on one end, its left hand end as viewed in Fig. 2, a clip member 22 which embraces the tube l3 so as to support the switch.

The outer end 23 of the temperature responsive element is secured to a supporting member 24 provided for the element. The supporting member 24, as shown, has a substantially right angle shape, the lower leg of which is secured directly to the outer end 23 of the element l9. The other leg arranged substantially at right angles to the lower leg extends in substantially parallel relation with the base [0 and is rigidly secured to a stud 25. The stud 25 in turn is mounted in a rigid support 26 of substantially U-shape. The legs of this support are rigidly secured to the base ID by means of screw fastening means 26a. A cup-shaped casing 21 houses the elements of the temperature control device. The mouth of the casing is received in provided for it in the base l0, and is secured to the support 26 by means of screws 21b. The stud 25, as shown, protrudes through an opening 28 provided for it in the outer wall of the casing 21 and to the protrudnig end of the stud there is secured an adjusting knob 29. This knob, as shown, is rigidly secured to the stuciby means of a key 29a. The stud is provided with a collar 30 which bears against the inner surface of the support 26, while on. the outside of the support there is provided a spring washer 3| interposed between the adjusting knob 29 and the support. The spring washer causes the collar 30 to engage the support with a frictional force sufficiently great to hold the support 24, and the spiral thermostat l9 associated therewith, in the adjusted position effected by the knob 29.

In view of the foregoing, it will be observed that the position of the thermostatic element l9 and consequently that of the switch i2 will depend upon the adjustment of the knob 29.

' The casing 21 is provided in its side walls with a plurality of rows of spaced apertures 32 extending thro-ughout the complete circumference of the casing. As shown, there are three rows of apertures 32 spaced at intervals longitudinally of the casing. These apertures provide for a free circulation of air over and about the thermostatic element l9. For example, if the casing I 0 be suspended from the wall of a room, the thermostatic element I 9 will for all practical purposes be immersed in the atmosphere in the room whose temperature is being controlled, or in other words, will be subjected directly to the temperature of the controlled medium.

It will be clear in view of the foregoing construction that the position of the switch I2 will control the heating action of the heating plant. When the tubular member I3 is horizontal, as

shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or moved in a counterclockwise direction from this position, the switch will be opened and heat will not be applied to the room; on the other hand, when the tube is inclined, in a clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3, heat will be applied to the room, and will be continuously applied to the room until the switch returns substantially to its horizontal a suitable recess 2'ia' the dial 33, and is provided In order to assist in adjusting the temperature setting of the device, a suitable temperature in-' dicating dial 33 is provided. The dial 33 is rigidly secured to the upright arm 01 the support 24 by means of screw fastening means 34. A suitable window 35 is provided in the front wall of the casing 21 through which the dial may be observed. At the base of the window, there is provided an index 36 which cooperates with the dial to denote the temperature setting of the knob. It will be observd that the dial is provided with temperature graduations; in this case, the dial is provided with the numerals 60, i0 and denoting temperatures, spaced a proper distance apart, and with suitable sub-dividing lines, whereby the observer may more accurately set the device. The dial 33 is provided with an arcuate shaped slot 31 for receiving the screw fastening means 34 to provide for adjustment of the dial when calibrating the control device. It will be observed in view of this construction that when the knob 29 is rotated so as to rotate the support 24 it will at the same time move the dial 33 which is attached to the support. The selected temperature will appear opposite the index36.

The bimetallic element I 9 not only functions to operate the switch, but also operates a suitable indicating device to denote the instantaneous values of the ambient temperature in the room. For this purpose, a suitable indicator 38 is provided. The indicator 38, as shown, is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 39, which in turn is mounted in the axis of the stud 25 in an aperture provided for it in the stud. The indicator is arranged to rotate freely on the shaft 39 with reference to the stud 25. The indicator 38; as shown, extends upwardly in substantially parallel relation with the upright arm of the support 24 and with an arcuateshaped slot 40 to receive the projecting end of the screw 34. At the to the indicator 38 is provided .with a portion arranged at right angles to the upright part and extending over the dial 33. This portion carries on its outer end a depen pg index 4| which cooperates with the indica ions on the dial 33. The indicating arm 38 is operated by means of an arm 42, which, as shown, is rigidly secured to the inner end 20 of the temperature responsive element IS. The upper end of this member 42 is provided with a fork which receives a pin 43 secured to the indicator arm. The indicator arm 38 is prevented from moving axially from the-stud 25 by means of a lip 43a on the support 24.

In the operation of the temperature control device, the knob 29 is adjusted to the temperature it is desired to hold in the room. For example, assume that the knob 28 has been set to a temperature of '70" F. In this case, as long as the temperature of the room is 70 F., the temperature responsive element |9 will hold the tube l3 in. a horizontal position whereby the switch will be opened. However, in the event that the temperature shouldfall below 70 F., the bimetallic element will'incline the tube l3 to close the switch and cause the heating plant to supply heat to the room. As the temperature of the room rises, the temperature responsive element will gradually unwind so as to return the tube particular temperature that to its horizontal position and when the temperature of 70 F. has been attained, will move the tube to open the switch. In this manner, the bimetallic spiral functions to hold a predetermined temperature which is a mean between the minimum and maximum temperatures at which it functions to close and open the switch, the

is held being determined bythe adjustment of the knob 29.

Should the knob 29 'be turned to a higher temperature position, such as 75' F., the support 24 and bimetallic element will be rotated in a clockwise direction from their positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the tube l3 will also be inclined to the horizontal. This will close the switch to cause heat to be applied to the room until its temperature reaches 75 at which temperature the switch is turned off by the spiral It. If a lower temperature is desired, the knob 29 is adjusted to move the switch l! in a counter-clockwise a suitable position. In this case, the room will cool to a predetermined low temperature below the selected temperature before the spiralwill operate to close the switch to apply heat to the room, after which the spiral will operate, as before, to hold the lower selected temperature.

In any position of the control knob 29, the switch will be alternated between its on and of! positions so as to hold a mean temperature between the temperature at which the switch is turned on and the temperature at which it is turned off.

At all times, the index ll carried by the indicator arm- 38 indicates the ambient temperature on the dial 33. -When the knob "is adjusted to change the temperature setting of the device by moving the temperature responsive element is, the switch I! and the dial 33, the indicator arm 38 will also be moved as a unit with these elements to the new position, but will always register the ambient temperature of the element I! on the dial. As the element It operates the switch to control the supply of heat to the room, the index 4| ivm be moved with it soas to indicate at every instant of time, the ambient temperature of the element It.

While I have shown a particular embodimen of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

WhatI claimasnewanddesiretosecureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A temperature control device comprising a perforated casing having a front wall, a spiral direction to temperature responsive member in said casing positioned so that air circulating through said perforations freely passes over said temperature responsive member, asupport in said casing for said temperature responsive member connected to one end thereof and mounted for movement substantially on the central axis of said casing, a control shaft mounted in the front wall of said casing substantially in the central axis thereof connected at its inner end to said support and having a control knob on its outer end, a temperature indicating dial within said casing and said front wall having a window for viewing the dial, a fixed index in'said window cooperating with said dial, an indicator within said casing associated with said dial, adriving connection between the other end of said spiral temperature responsive member and said indicator so that said indicator denotes the temperature of said spiral member on said dial, and a'sw'itch operated by said other end of said spiral member.

2. A temperature control device comprising .a

base, a perforated casing secured to said base and projecting from one side thereof, a support also mounted on said base, a spiral bimetallic thermostat within said casing so that air circulating through said perforations of said casing passes freely around and about said thermostat, an arm within said casing secured to the outer end of said thermostat to support said thermostat in said casing, a stud on said support mounting said am for pivotal movement on saidsupport protruding from said casing, an adjusting knob on the exterior of said casing secured to said protruding portion whereby the position of said arm and said thermostat can be adjusted, a tubular vessel rigidly secured to the inner end of said thermostat, contacts'in said vessel, a conducting fluid in said vessel arranged to engage said con-' tacts to complete a circuit through them and to disengage said contacts to break said circuit depending on the angular position of said vessel, said thermostat controlling said position of said vessel to close and open said contacts, a temcured to said stud knob when said thermostat is adjusted, said casing being provided with a window .through which said dial is observable and an index cooperating with said dial to denote its temperature setting, an indicator, a shaft mounted within the axis of said stud supporting said indicator for free rotation with reference to said stud and for coperation with said dial to denote ambient temperature and a driving connection between said inner end of said thermoglat and said indicator. 

